25 December 1965

Happy birthday to Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton 1997-2015, 2017-

Born in Nottinghamshire, Ed Davey first worked for the party researching economic issues for Alan Beith and Paddy Ashdown, becoming the party’s senior economic advisor and helping to develop policies including a penny on income tax for education. Selected to fight Kingston and Surbiton he was elected at his first attempt with a majority of 56. In parliament Davey spoke for the party on a range of issues including local government, education and trade. In the wake of Nick Clegg’s election as leader Davey was appointed shadow Foreign Secretary. Following the formation of the coalition government in 2010, Davey was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, joining the cabinet in February 2012 as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change following the resignation of Chris Huhne. At the 2015 election Davey lost his seat to the Conservatives. Knighted in the 2016 New Year’s honours, Davey recaptured Kingston at the 2017 election. He was a candidate for the leadership of the party in 2019 following the resignation of Vince Cable, losing to Jo Swinson but later being elected Deputy Leader. Following Swinson’s resignation after losing her seat in the 2019 election, Davey was elected to succeed her in August 2020.